The Race to Superintelligence - Richard Socher with Nicholas Thompson

The Race to Superintelligence - Richard Socher with Nicholas Thompson

Author: Atlantic Re:think September 9, 2026 Duration: 1:08:45
As AI’s capabilities improve, reports of “rogue” agents and misaligned systems are becoming more frequent. In response, some activists, academics, and politicians have called for a pause in development, warning of the dangers that superintelligent AI could pose. But Richard Socher, the CEO of AI startup Recursive as well as the AI search engine You.com, sees another path. In his new book, The Eureka Machine, Socher lays out his vision for how self-improving AI could lead to breakthroughs in science, medicine, economics, and more. In conversation with Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, he details some of the ways we can mitigate its risks, explains why the limits of our own minds could hold AI back, and considers whether we’re projecting too many fears about human behavior onto an insensate technology. Produced independently of The Atlantic’s editorial staff. (00:00) Introduction (02:25) Richard's childhood in East Germany and Ethiopia (10:23) What Richard got wrong about AI hype and the DeepMind acquisition (12:14) The idea behind The Eureka Machine (17:18) How AIs can compete to make each other safer (20:30) Are fears about synthetic data overblown? (22:32) When hallucinations are actually helpful (28:16) How human intelligence could hold AI back (34:52) The metacognition tension (39:13) The OpenAI-Hugging Face hack (46:15) Would narrower AI goals have put us in a better spot? (50:30) Richard’s debate with Yoshua Bengio: are we building a dominant species? (54:29) What breakthrough will finally win over AI skeptics? (59:26) The case for widely available superintelligence (1:04:20) What Richard would do if he had an unlimited budget to invest in AI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicholas Thompson sits down with some of the sharpest minds working at the edges of artificial intelligence in The Most Interesting Thing in A.I.. This isn't a dry technical briefing or a series of speculative futures; instead, each conversation digs into the tangible, often surprising ways this technology is already altering the fabric of our daily lives and institutions. You'll hear from leading thinkers who cut through the hype to discuss the real ethical dilemmas, economic shifts, and social transformations unfolding right now. Produced by Atlantic Re:think and PwC, the podcast provides a grounded space to explore questions about creativity, power, work, and truth in an age of intelligent machines. The discussions are built on the premise that understanding AI's impact requires looking beyond code and algorithms to consider human values and consequences. Tune in for thoughtful, accessible dialogues that reframe how we think about one of the most significant forces of our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 41

The Most Interesting Thing in AI
Podcast Episodes
Building Trustworthy AI - with Nicholas Thompson and Navrina Singh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:03
What happens when AI learns faster than its makers can control? In this episode, Nicholas talks with Navrina Singh, founder and CEO of Credo AI, about how regulation could actually accelerate innovation of more responsib…
AI in Flight - with Nicholas Thompson, Tory Bruno and Joe Schurman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:16
The space race has gone private, and in this new world, efficiency is key. United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno explains how a legacy rocket maker remade itself to compete in an industry full of startups. From load anal…
Artificial Life - with Nicholas Thompson and Lee Cronin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
How do you digitize the physical world? In this episode, Nick talks with University of Glasgow chemistry professor Lee Cronin, founder of Chemify—a company that is using AI to turn molecules to code s—about his quest to…
The Future of  AI at Work - with Nicholas Thompson and Matt Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:03
What does it take to succeed in the disruptive world of AI? In this episode, Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson sits down with Matt Wood, PwC’s Global and U.S. Commercial Technology and Innovation Officer, to trace his path…
The AI Athlete - with Nicholas Thompson and Will Ahmed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:29
Can AI unlock your full potential as an athlete? In this episode, Nicholas speaks with Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of Whoop, about how wearable technology and AI are transforming health, performance, and longevity. From…
Neuro-Symbolic AI - with Nicholas Thompson and Ohad Elhelo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:03
In this episode, Atlantic CEO Nicholas Thompson speaks with Ohad Elhelo, co-founder and CEO of AUI, about neuro-symbolic systems. Apollo-1, AUI's neuro-symbolic foundational model, promises both the fluency of generative…
Season 3 Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26
A podcast series examining how AI is reshaping our world. Each episode features a conversation with a leading thinker who offers a fresh perspective on the far-reaching ethical, economic, and social implications of this…
AI Optimism - with Nicholas Thompson and Kevin Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
What happens if we get AI right? In this episode, Nicholas speaks with Wired co-founder Kevin Kelly about AI’s potential to positively impact the future of humanity. Featured Guest: Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired Learn…
Pharma's Future - with Nicholas Thompson, Diogo Rau and Dan Priest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
How is AI shaping the future of healthcare? In this episode, Nicholas speaks with Eli Lilly’s Diogo Rau about how AI is making it easier and faster to find life-saving drugs, and PwC Chief AI Officer Dan Priest about how…
Making Music With AI - with Nicholas Thompson and Holly Herndon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
AI is transforming the creative landscape, opening up possibilities for a new generation of artists. In this episode, Nicholas speaks with experimental musician and AI artist Holly Herndon about the intersection of human…